以斯拉到達耶路撒冷

這些事以後,波斯王亞達薛西年間,以斯拉從巴比倫上到耶路撒冷。以斯拉是西萊雅的兒子,西萊雅是亞撒利雅的兒子,亞撒利雅是希勒迦的兒子, 希勒迦是沙龍的兒子,沙龍是撒督的兒子,撒督是亞希突的兒子, 亞希突是亞瑪利雅的兒子,亞瑪利雅是亞撒利雅的兒子,亞撒利雅是米拉約的兒子, 米拉約是西拉希雅的兒子,西拉希雅是烏西的兒子,烏西是布基的兒子, 布基是亞比書的兒子,亞比書是非尼哈的兒子,非尼哈是以利亞撒的兒子,以利亞撒是大祭司亞倫的兒子。 這以斯拉是位律法教師,精通以色列的上帝耶和華賜下的摩西律法。他的上帝耶和華幫助他,使王批准他的一切要求。

亞達薛西王第七年,一些以色列人、祭司、利未人、歌樂手、殿門守衛和殿役來到耶路撒冷。 8-9 這年一月一日,以斯拉從巴比倫啟程去耶路撒冷,五月一日就到達那裡,因為他的上帝施恩幫助他。 10 以斯拉定意研讀、遵行耶和華的律法,並在以色列教導律例和典章。

亞達薛西王給以斯拉的諭旨

11 以斯拉是祭司和律法教師,精通耶和華賜給以色列的誡命和律例。亞達薛西王降旨給以斯拉,內容如下:

12 「王中之王亞達薛西降旨給精通天上上帝律法的教師以斯拉祭司,願你平安!

13 「我現在降旨,我國中的以色列人、祭司和利未人,凡願意上耶路撒冷的都可以與你同去。 14 我和七位謀士派你去按照你手中上帝的律法察看猶大和耶路撒冷的情況, 15 並帶去我和謀士們自願獻的金銀,獻給住在耶路撒冷的以色列的上帝, 16 還要帶去你在巴比倫省得到的金銀,以及民眾和祭司為耶路撒冷的上帝之殿自願奉獻的祭物。 17 你一定要用這些金銀購買公牛、公綿羊和綿羊羔,以及素祭和奠祭用品,把這一切獻在耶路撒冷上帝殿的祭壇上。 18 至於餘下的金銀,你和你的弟兄可以按你們上帝的心意妥善使用。 19 那些交托給你、用來在你上帝的殿裡敬拜的器皿,你要帶到耶路撒冷的上帝面前。 20 如果你們上帝的殿還需要什麼,你可以從國庫支取費用。

21 「我亞達薛西王降旨給河西所有的財政大臣,精通天上上帝律法的律法教師以斯拉祭司無論向你們要什麼,都要速速辦理, 22 可以給他銀子三點四噸、麥子兩萬二千升、酒兩千二百升、油兩千二百升,鹽可以隨意取用。 23 不論天上的上帝為祂的殿有何要求,都要認真辦理,以免祂的烈怒臨到王及眾王子的國。 24 我們也通知你們不可向這座上帝殿的祭司、利未人、歌樂手、殿門守衛、殿役或其他工人徵收賦稅。

25 「你以斯拉要運用上帝賜給你的智慧委派官員和審判官,讓他們治理河西省的人民,就是明白你上帝律法的人。你要教導那些不明白你上帝律法的人。 26 凡不遵行你上帝的律法和王法的,要對他嚴加治罪,或處死,或發配,或抄家,或監禁。」

以斯拉讚美上帝

27 以斯拉說:

「我們祖先的上帝耶和華當受讚美!因為祂使王有這樣的心意尊崇耶路撒冷耶和華的殿。 28 祂又在王及其謀士和所有權貴面前施恩於我。因為我的上帝耶和華幫助我,我便有勇氣召集以色列的首領與我一同上去。」

'Ezra 7 ' not found for the version: New Testament for Everyone.

Ezra Arrives in Jerusalem

Many years later, when Artaxerxes was emperor of Persia, there was a man named Ezra. He traced his ancestors back to Aaron, the High Priest, as follows: Ezra was the son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah, son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub, son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth, son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki, son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron.

6-7 Ezra was a scholar with a thorough knowledge of the Law which the Lord, the God of Israel, had given to Moses. Because Ezra had the blessing of the Lord his God, the emperor gave him everything he asked for. In the seventh year of the reign of Artaxerxes, Ezra set out from Babylonia for Jerusalem with a group of Israelites which included priests, Levites, Temple musicians, Temple guards, and workers. 8-9 They left Babylonia on the first day of the first month, and with God's help they arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month. 10 Ezra had devoted his life to studying the Law of the Lord, to practicing it, and to teaching all its laws and regulations to the people of Israel.

The Document Which Emperor Artaxerxes Gave to Ezra

11 Emperor Artaxerxes gave the following document to Ezra, the priest and scholar, who had a thorough knowledge of the laws and commands which the Lord had given to Israel:

12 “From Emperor Artaxerxes[a] to the priest Ezra, scholar in the Law of the God of Heaven.[b]
13 “I command that throughout my empire all the Israelite people, priests, and Levites that so desire be permitted to go with you to Jerusalem. 14 I, together with my seven counselors, send you to investigate the conditions in Jerusalem and Judah in order to see how well the Law of your God, which has been entrusted to you, is being obeyed. 15 You are to take with you the gold and silver offerings which I and my counselors desire to give to the God of Israel, whose Temple is in Jerusalem. 16 You are also to take all the silver and gold which you collect throughout the province of Babylon and the offerings which the Israelite people and their priests give for the Temple of their God in Jerusalem.
17 “You are to spend this money carefully and buy bulls, rams, lambs, grain, and wine and offer them on the altar of the Temple in Jerusalem. 18 You may use the silver and gold that is left over for whatever you and your people desire, in accordance with the will of your God. 19 You are to present to God in Jerusalem all the utensils that have been given to you for use in the Temple services. 20 And anything else which you need for the Temple, you may get from the royal treasury.
21 “I command all the treasury officials in West-of-Euphrates Province to provide promptly for Ezra, the priest and scholar in the Law of the God of Heaven, everything he asks you for, 22 up to a limit of 7,500 pounds of silver, 500 bushels of wheat, 550 gallons of wine, 550 gallons of olive oil, and as much salt as needed. 23 You must be careful to provide everything which the God of Heaven requires for his Temple, and so make sure that he is never angry with me or with those who reign after me. 24 You are forbidden to collect any taxes from the priests, Levites, musicians, guards, workers, or anyone else connected with this Temple.
25 “You, Ezra, using the wisdom which your God has given you, are to appoint administrators and judges to govern all the people in West-of-Euphrates who live by the Law of your God. You must teach that Law to anyone who does not know it. 26 If any disobey the laws of your God or the laws of the empire, they are to be punished promptly: by death or by exile or by confiscation of their property or by imprisonment.”

Ezra Praises God

27 Ezra said, “Praise the Lord, the God of our ancestors! He has made the emperor willing to honor in this way the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. 28 By God's grace I have won the favor of the emperor, of his counselors, and of all his powerful officials; the Lord my God has given me courage, and I have been able to persuade many of the heads of the clans of Israel to return with me.”

Footnotes

  1. Ezra 7:12 Verses 12-26 are in Aramaic (see also 4.7).
  2. Ezra 7:12 Aramaic has an additional word, the meaning of which is unclear.